University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


NINA  JONES 
HER  BOOK 


NINAONES 


PAUL  ELDER  AND  COMPANY 
SAN  FRANCISCO 


Copyright,  1916 

By  PAUL  ELDER  AND  COMPANY 
SAN  FRANCISCO 


TO 
MY  FATHER 

Take  this — my  book 
A  poor  offering 
For  so  much  kindness, 
But  my  all.     I  bring 
And  lay  it  in  your  hand 
Today. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

A  SONG  OF  LITTLE  THINGS 3 

"Missis" 5 

To  MRS.  CARRINGTON 7 

WINDS  THAT  BLOW 9 

LONELINESS n 

THE  SHIPS  THAT  PASS  IN  THE  NIGHT 13 

After  "On!  THAT  WE  Two  WERE  MAYING!"       .     .  15 

MY  MOTHER'S  EYES        17 

THE  WAR 19 

THE  DAYS  WE  PLAYED 21 

SILENCE 23 

THE  DREAMER 25 

CONSOLATION 27 

HEART  OF  THE  WINDS  THAT  CROSS  THE  HILL    ...  29 

DEATH 31 

INCONSTANCY 33 

A  PRAYER 35 

FLEURDELIS 37 

KATHERINE — FEBRUARY  23, 1916 39 

A  LULLABY •    .  41 

WE  CHASED  THE  BUTTERFLIES  OF  DREAMS        ...  43 

DISTANCE 45 

AWAKENING 47 

SOMEWHERE  OUT  OF  THE  DARKNESS  SWEET      ...  49 

SOMETHING  OF  CHILDHOOD 51 

THE  WAVES  THAT  WASHED  AWAY  THE  SAND  53 

[v]  ' 


NINA  JONES 
HER  BOOK 


A  SONG  OF  LITTLE  THINGS 

HITTLE  birds  upon  the  wing 
Flying  off  together, 
Bursting  little  hearts  to  sing 
Of  the  golden  weather. 
Little  birds  upon  the  wing! 

Little  sails  out  on  the  sea, 
Gulls  and  sails  aflying, 
In  the  winds  of  Destiny 
Each  the  other  vieing. 
Little  sails  out  on  the  sea! 

Little  stars  up  in  the  sky, 
Heaven's  lamps  ashining. 
Do  you  ever  wonder  why, 
Are  you  never  pining 
For  the  birds  and  sails  that  fly? 
Little  stars  up  in  the  sky! 


[3] 


"MlSSIE" 

HE  NAME  you  had  for  me, 

(You  called  it  yesterday) 
As  blossoms  of  rosemary, 

The  little  name  "Missie." 
It  fell  so  light  and  gay, 
The  name  you  had  for  me. 

Did  it  guide  you  happily 
Back,  or  will  you  say? 
As  blossoms  of  rosemary! 

Little  name  that  was  the  key 

To  the  springtimes  early  May, 
The  name  you  had  for  me. 

Sweet  and  dear  eternally, 

Smiling  at  the  sun  loved  day, 
As  blossoms  of  rosemary. 

Who  shall  take  this  name  from  me? 
When  my  hair  is  turning  grey! 
No.— It  shall  be  April's  fee 
As  blossoms  of  rosemary. 

[5] 


To  MRS.  CARRINGTON 

),  SONNET,  tell  her  that  I  miss 
The  little  touch  upon  the  waiting  hand; 
e  ever  ready  words,  "I  understand;" 
HerTundly  thought;  the  imprint  of  her  kiss. 
And  whisper  how  her  words  did  much  impress, 
As  a  seer's  finger  writing  on  the  desert  sand, 
This  life  of  mine;  how  she  ambition  fanned 
Until  it  was  a  flame  of  lovliness. 

She  may,  within  her  dear  heart's  warmer  clime, 
Send  me  a  word,  as  the  swift  passing  ship 
Takes  brief  a  second  from  its  glass  of  time, 
To  signal  the  small  shallop's  toss  and  dip. 
I  pause  o'er — I  remember  we  are  friends 
Even  to  the  world's  eternal  sunset  ends. 


WINDS  THAT  BLOW 


that  blow  the  roses  sweet 
Over  the  walls  of  the  garden, 
Out  into  the  dusty  street 

And  never  ask  a  pardon, 

Do  you  never  wonder  where 

The  ashes  of  those  roses  go, 

Or  is  it  you  do  not  care? 

Winds  that  blow! 


[9] 


LONELINESS 

THINK  of  you  the  whole  day  through. 

My  thoughts,  they  voyage  swift  and 

speed 

Upon  the  winds  across  the  mead. 
The  winds  that  sing  the  song  of  you! 

I  watch  alone,  the  stars  that  gleam 
Their  vagrant  way  across  the  sky. 
I  know  a  little  bird  will  fly 
One  day  to  you  as  in  a  dream. 

And  you  will  come,  hearing  my  call, 
So  silently  upon  the  sand. 
I  will  reach  out  and  clasp  your  hand, 
Remembering  and  forgiving  all. 

By  permission 

The  International  Magazine 


hi] 


THE  SHIPS  THAT  PASS  IN  THE  NIGHT 

SHIPS  that  pass  in  the  night, 
Through  the  silvering  grey  of  the  sea, 
Are  ever  a  welcome  delight. 

The  ships  that  pass  in  the  night 

May  hold  a  dream's  swift  flight; 

Some  fair  dream  for  you  or  me. 

The  ships  that  pass  in  the  night 

Through  the  silvering  grey  of  the  sea! 


[13] 


After  "On!  THAT  WE  Two  WERE 

MAYING" 

OH !  THAT  we  two  were  sailing 
Down  the  breast  of  the  distant  stream. 
Like  little  white  drifts  playing 
In  the  shade  of  the  river's  dream.- 
Oh!  that  we  two  sat,  dear  one, 
On  the  banks  of  the  golden  rod, 
Watching  the  twilight  beckon 
O'er  the  clouds  that  reach  to  God. 
Oh !  that  we  two  lay  sleeping 
In  our  haven  beneath  the  sea, 
With  our  hearts  in  Love's  safe  keeping 
And  our  souls  in  Eternity. 


[15] 


MY  MOTHER'S  EYES 

HE  HAS  blue  eyes,  that  smile 
And  hold  the  depth  of  angels'  tears; 
That  shine  through  stars,  the  while 

Gazing  backward  at  the  years. 

They  are  so  true,  these  lovely  eyes, 

And  ever  gaze  a  new  sweet  thought 

But  who  would  not  surmise 

She  has  blue  eyes ! 


17] 


THE  WAR 

*-«-^r  CRASHED  upon  the  world  its  mighty  woe> 
And  tore  its  bloody  path  through  many 
^J^^         hearts— 
A  thing  malign  that  is  all  nations'  foe, 
War!  the  destroying  hand  of  all  the  arts. 
It  turns  Time  back  to  dreaded  savage  parts. 
The  wreaking  knife  of  murder's  gory  force, 
It  hurls  the  best  in  man  into  its  carts 
Of  carnage,  ravage;  heedless  of  remorse 
That  comes  too  late  with  Death's  unflinching 
course. 


THE  DAYS  WE  PLAYED 

DAYS  we  played  in  the  shimmering  sea 
Andyoursongwaslightonthequietair, — 
Happy  the  hours  and  happier  we, 
Without  a  sorrow  and  with  a  laugh  for  care! 
Now  was  there  ever  so  merry  a  pair 
Dancing  in  sunshine  beneath  the  lea? 
The  days  we  played  in  the  shimmering  sea 
And  your  song  was  light  on  the  quiet  air! 
The  salt  shone  diadem-like  in  your  hair, 
We  can  not  say  love  was  not  there, 
But  in  the  Autumn  he  set  himself  free. 
The  days  we  played  in  the  shimmering  sea 
And  your  song  was  light  on  the  quiet  air. 


[21 


SILENCE 

[ILENCE  is  the  lull  that  follows  gales  at  sea, 
The  pause  before  the  voice  of  lovers' 

speech, 

The  stillness  of  the  grey  dawn's  mystery, 
The  aftermath  of  twilight  on  the  beach. 
It  is  God  given  within  human  reach. 

It  is  found  in  emotion's  greatest  hour, 
A  thing  too  subtle  for  expression's  form. 
It  dwells  in  the  heart  of  a  forest  flower 
And  sails  like  a  light  cloud  before  the  storm, 
Unseen,  unheard,  but  with  insistent  power. 


[23] 


THE  DREAMER 

OREAM  that  my  dwelling  is  within  your 
heart, 
Imagine  that  my  visioning  is  your 

own, 

Look  up  and  see  me  laughing  down  the  path 
Of  memories, — together  we  have  sown. 

Suppose  that  life  were  a  meadow  green, 
The  years  the  field  flowers  that  blow, 

And  through  the  tall  grasses  hand  in  hand 
Singing,  like  happy  children  we  go. 

Oh  say  that,  "The  sad  road  is  covered/' 
That,"  The  dogwood's  abloom  in  the  Spring.1 

And  once  more  we  shall  sit  in  the  twilight 
With  silence—  —remembering! 


CONSOLATION 


E  still! 

No  ill 

Can  come  to  you. 


So  deep 

And  fathomless 

Is  death. 

No  breath, 

An  end  of  pain. 

I  call, 

Tis  all 

My  sad  heart  knows. 

Silent, 

Intent, 

Upon  your  slumber. 

But  near 

I  hear 

Your  spirit  speak, 

In  dreams, 

It  seems. 


[27] 


HEART  OF  THE  WINDS  THAT  CROSS 
THE  HILL 

BEART  of  the  winds  that  cross  the  hill 
And  come  with  the  sweet  of  the  hay,- 
Through  my  curtained  window  sill; 
Heart  of  the  winds  that  cross  the  hill, 
Bringing  a  breath  of  the  ocean's  chill, 
And  cooling  the  summer's  day; 
Heart  of  the  winds  that  cross  the  hill 
And  come  with  the  sweet  of  the  hay! 


[29] 


DEATH 

IE  TEARS  rained  from  the  sky 
I  Oh  stormy  weeping. 

'  The  sun  hung  sadly  behind  a  cloud 

Fofyou  were  sleeping 

In  that  last  unwakeful  rest. 

The  world  was  grey. 

Even  the  green  almond  swayed  in  sorrow, 

The  old  priest  came  to  pray 

And  I  beside  your  still  form  stood 

Turned  fast  to  stone; 

Then  through  the  rainbow  that  swiftly 

swayed  above 
I  saw  your  face — alone! 

By  permission 

The  International  Magazine 


[31] 


INCONSTANCY 

I  LOVE  the  world! 
I  love  you. — 
I  could  not  be  true 
To  just  you, 
So  I  love  the  world 
Including  you. 


33 


A  PRAYER 

OH  LET  our  prayers  come  unto  Thee 
And  listen  in  Thy  greater  heart. 
To  the  torn  world  eternally 
Oh  let  our  prayers  come  unto  Thee ! 
Until  from  sin  our  souls  are  free 
And  we  have  done  our  given  part, 
Oh  let  our  prayers  come  unto  Thee 
And  listen  in  Thy  greater  heart. 


.35 


FLEURDE  Lis 

SPRING  to  color  o'er  the  hills  of  France, 
,In  glory  purpling  the  martial  fields, 
And  waving  pinions  of  fair  romance, 

In  winds  that  sing  of  battle  and  of  chance. 

And  ye  art  blazoned  even  on  their  shields ! 

Ye  grow  in  the  damp  of  the  trenches'  mire, 
In  the  hot  passion  of  war's  wretched  cause, 
And  give  thy  fresh  bloom  to  the  cannon's  fire, 
(Too  frail  to  burn  on  a  funeral  pyre — ). 
Oh  what  care  ye  for  this  world's  mock  applause ! 

Ye  die  on  stems  made  green  by  April's  tears, 
On  youthful  graves  ye  thrive  to  bloom  anew. 
Thou  art  the  ghosts  of  a  hundred  buried  years, 
Of  other  lily  flowers  that  here  grew, 
Returned  to  face  the  horror  and  the  fears! 


[37] 


KATHERINE 

FEBRUARY  23, 1916 

®ON'T  YOU  say  she's  sleeping,  sleeping, 
Resting  peacefully  today? 
Won't  you  see  the  angels  keeping 
Watch  above  her  lovely  clay? 

Does  your  heart  stop  still  and  listen 
For  her  footfall  on  the  stair? 
Do  you  close  wet  eyes  that  glisten 
With  the  sad  tears  always  there? 

Won't  you  think  her  sleeping,  sleeping, 
In  that  home  below  the  hill, 
With  the  cool  green  ivy  creeping 
Over  door  and  window  sill  ? 

Oh,  poor  lonely  heart  a'aching, 
Give  her  tears  and  violets  white, 
Only  know  that  she  is  waking 
Out  of  darkness  into  Light. 


[39] 


A  LULLABY 


in  these  happy  arms  —  my  pet, 
J  Dream  that  the  fluted  notes  of  Pan 
Are  dancing  o'er  your  coverlet, 
And  baby  stars  are  looking  down 
Upon  you,  child,  and  even  yet 
Are  dancing  o'er  your  coverlet. 

Rest  through  the  quiet  night,  —  my  sweet, 
Know  that  God  is  looking  down, 
Guiding  to  Dreamland  your  little  feet. 
And  sweet  thoughts  linger  o'er  your  bed, 
While  mother's  prayers  with  them  meet 
Guiding  to  Dreamland  your  little  feet. 


WE  CHASED  THE  BUTTERFLIES  OF 
DREAMS 

CHASED  the  butterflies  of  dreams 
lnto  the  fields  of  yesterday, 
And   caught   one   mid   the   moonlight 

beams. 

We  chased  the  butterflies  of  dreams,— 
That  danced  beside  the  shady  streams. 
They  lingered, — but  to  fly  away. 
We  chased  the  butterflies  of  dreams 
Into  the  fields  of  yesterday! 


[43] 


DISTANCE 

I  LOVED  you,  dear, — 
I  never  told  you  so. 
I  pressed  your  lips, — 
You  did  not  dream  or  know. 
I  called  your  name, 
You  could  not  hear  so  far, 
For  I'm  the  ingenue — You — the  star! 

By  permission 

The  Theatre  Magazine 


[45! 


AWAKENING 


— -r^i 

OJ 


JKNEW  it  not  for  love 
When  first  you  touched  my  hand. 
The  trembling  of  my  heart 
I  did  not  understand. 


I  knew  it  not  for  love 
When  first  you  kissed  me,  dear,- 
And  yet  it  seemed  not  strange 
That  you  should  be  so  near. 

I  knew  it  not  for  love 
Until  you  went  away, — 
Then  came  the  wild  desire 
For  you  and  yesterday. 


[47] 


SOMEWHERE  OUT  OF  THE  DARKNESS 
SWEET 

foMEWHERE  out  of  the  darkness  sweet, 
The  darkness  of  the  narrow  grave, 

I  hear  the  soft  tread  of  your  feet. 

Somewhere  out  of  the  darkness  sweet, — 
Or  is  it  but  a  mere  conceit 
Of  longing  that  the  spirit  gave?— 
Somewhere  out  of  the  darkness  sweet, 
The  darkness  of  the  narrow  grave! 


[49] 


SOMETHING  OF  CHILDHOOD 

I  HAVE  this  with  me  always 
The  love  of  little  things, — 
A  torn  book  from  my  childhood, 
A  worn  out  doll  that  clings 
Around  memory,  that  lingers 
And  in  the  tree  top  sings. 

I  have  not  yet  forgotten 
The  toy  house  on  the  lawn, 

The  wee  and  shabby  furniture 
Quite  rickety  and  torn, 

I  close  my  eyes  and  wonder 

Where  has  my  childhood  gone? 

I  think  sometime  I'll  find  it 

Beside  a  shaded  brook, 
With  johnny-jump-ups  on  its  bank 

Like  in  a  story  book 

The  little  girl  I  used  to  know 

With  childhood's  wondering  look. 


[51] 


THE  WAVES  THAT  WASHED  AWAY 
THE  SAND 

HE  WAVES  that  washed  away  the  sand 

Swept  our  two  names  into  the  sea 

They  acted  as  a  fairy  wand. 
The  waves  that  washed  away  the  sand, 
Left  nothing  that  we  two  had  planned, 
But  set  our  hearts  and  summer  free. 
The  waves  that  washed  away  the  sand 
Swept  our  two  names  into  the  sea. 


53] 


HERE  ENDS  THE  BOOK  OF  NINA  JONES  PUB- 
LISHED BY  PAUL  ELDER  AND  COMPANY,  AND 
SEEN    THROUGH    THEIR    TOMOYE    PRESS 
UNDER  THE  TYPOGRAPHICAL  DIRECTION  OF 
HERMAN   A.    FUNKE,   IN   SAN    FRANCISCO, 
DURING  THE  MONTH  OF  SEPTEMBER, 
NINETEEN  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTEEN 


Z.Z3? 


